Category Archives: Apologetics

Christian Apologetic Reasoning

Science Fiction: What is it good for?

I was watching DAS RHEINGOLD by Wagner with my children, seeing the dark elfs and bright gods and lumbering giants and lambent nixies all conspiring to possess to posses and fearing the Ring of the Nibelungs, and lusting for the … Continue reading

Posted in Apologetics, Fancies, Musings | 37 Comments

Voting for Reptillian Space Pope

Over at CAEI, a commenter named Claude remarks: As a cradle Catholic who has been atheist/agnostic for most of my life, I would agree that atheism is boring. You, a Christian, are commanded to be perfect as your Father in … Continue reading

Posted in Apologetics, Fancies | 37 Comments

The Theodicy of the Fall

The same reader who asked me to justify the ways of God to man on the question of Hell now returns to ask about the justice of the Fall of Man. The conversation was prompted by this parable Galadriel the … Continue reading

Posted in Apologetics | 19 Comments

Recommended Athiest Reading

I am breaking my Friday-Only writing rule to answer what I think is an excellent question by a Mr Ruiz: Who do you consider to be the most articulate and firmly-grounded spokesmen for atheism? Who did you read and admire … Continue reading

Posted in Apologetics | 194 Comments

Sylvester and Beowulf a Note on the Alignment of Dragons

For those of you who did not get enough Christmas at Christmas Day, let me remind you that today, 31 December, is the Sixth Day of Christmas, when it is tradition to give your true love six geese a-laying. It … Continue reading

Posted in Apologetics, Drollery | 40 Comments

Feast of the Holy Innocents

This day, December 28th, the Feast of the Holy Innocents, is the day we remember the most guiltless and precious children slaughtered by the evil of this unhappy world. The Gospel says this in Matthew: Then Herod, when he saw … Continue reading

Posted in Apologetics, Musings | 3 Comments

The Theodicy of Hell

Vicq Ruiz asks a fascinating and very hard question: I … have noted that one element in which Christianity appears to be unique is the doctrine of eternal punishment for unbelief, and for unbelief alone among man’s sins. And it … Continue reading

Posted in Apologetics | 81 Comments

Christ and Nothing

Vicq Ruiz asks a fascinating and hard question: Mr. Wright: I would be most interested to have you expand upon (or point me to an expansion upon, by you or by another) one paragraph in your essay which appears to … Continue reading

Posted in Apologetics | 152 Comments

Moral Absolutism in an Atheist Universe

Does atheism allow for an objective moral code? Now, it is no use to say that ‘atheism’ is not a doctrine since not all atheists agree on all points. Nonsense. They all agree on the one point that there is … Continue reading

Posted in Apologetics, Reasonings | 32 Comments

How to Find God

When asked what it would take to convince him that there were a God, Tyrrell McAllister writes in reply: I don’t know, but my imagination is limited. Nonetheless, I am certain that an omnipotent and omniscient God, unburdened by my … Continue reading

Posted in Apologetics | 70 Comments

The Coyness of God

Over at Bad Catholic (http://www.patheos.com/blogs/badcatholic/2012/11/an-imperfect-god.html) One of Mr Barnes’ readers there asks the plaintive question: If God tailors his interactions to suit his audience, then why are atheists wrong to ask for definitive evidence of his existence? Thomas got it. … Continue reading

Posted in Apologetics | 39 Comments

The Other Side of the Picture

This was written by Flannery O’Conner (who, along with Dean Koontz and Walker Percy, ranks as the most widely famed of Catholic and Southern authors) to a student who had, or thought he had, lost his faith in College. 30 … Continue reading

Posted in Apologetics, Only Posting a Link | 27 Comments

On Ecumenical Partisanship

A reader with the magical name of Robertjwizard asks: “So I ask – what, outside of banning abortion (which many Catholics practice) does a Catholic stand for politically?” Not to be impudent, but our kingdom is not of this world. … Continue reading

Posted in Apologetics | 36 Comments

Separated at Birth?

In German folklore a walking ghost who looks just like you is called Doppelganger. Being a science fiction fan, I first saw the word not used in its original meaning, but as a word to refer to your alternate self … Continue reading

Posted in Apologetics, Only Posting a Link | 4 Comments

Do Outrageous Claims demand Outrageous Acts?

Regarding a previous post, A reader named Vicq Ruiz writes: What I would like to ask you is this. Do you continually confront non-Christians, using the same phrasing and sense of urgency in this article, in your face-to-face encounters with … Continue reading

Posted in Apologetics | 16 Comments

The Outrageous Claim

Alan Silverman, one of the few men on the Internet who uses a human name, writes: Though I do not follow the dictates of Jesus, I do not hold Christianity or its scripture in contempt. I merely disagree with certain … Continue reading

Posted in Apologetics | 79 Comments

For the Undecided Catholic Voter

Perhaps you say the two Parties are too similar to make any vote between them make a difference. Perhaps in other areas, this may or may not be so. But turn your eyes to those issues where you may have … Continue reading

Posted in Apologetics, Musings | 18 Comments

Vacation and the Naturalist Fallacy

Just a note to those interested in any ongoing argument here at the my Journal that this is vacation week for me, and I have been out of communication for several days, and shall be for several more. Lest I … Continue reading

Posted in Apologetics, Reasonings | 1 Comment

My Friends, the Witches

Since at least one witch who (to judge from the comment) knows less about witchcraft than I do had the temerity to question my qualifications to report what it is that neopagans believe, it behooves me to produce my credentials, … Continue reading

Posted in Apologetics, Drollery, Musings | 161 Comments

Neopaganism and No Starch

This article is another reason why I must remember to send my dues to the Mark-Shea-John-Wright Mutual Admiration Society, aside from the fact that I am one of two members and founders. What puzzles me about neo-paganism is why it … Continue reading

Posted in Apologetics, Fancies, Musings, Only Posting a Link | 143 Comments

Quote of the Day

Edward Feser from THE LAST SUPERSTITION: “The mainstream Western religious tradition itself very firmly rests on and embraces reason and science. “That tradition also insists that religious conviction and moral virtue must be adopted of one’s own free will, not … Continue reading

Posted in Apologetics, Musings | 11 Comments

The Last Free Election

Presented here as a public service, because the Crisismagazine website is on the blink, at least at the moment. As soon as they come back online, I’ll remove this article by Rev Rutler, and link to it. The money quote … Continue reading

Posted in Apologetics, Musings | 8 Comments

Breakthrough in Neuroscience

For those of you who have asked for a change of topic, here is an interesting article about an advance in neuroscience: a British physician apparently can communicate with a patient diagnosed as being brain-dead (persistent vegetative state) through an … Continue reading

Posted in Apologetics, Musings | 16 Comments

Theology as Science or as Law

I said I would stop talking on this topic, as I wish not to give scandal to the heathen overhearing our friendly (or unfriendly) debate between denominations, but a response to a follow up question to the Parable of the … Continue reading

Posted in Apologetics | 22 Comments

The Parable of the Peddlers

In recent days a miniature controversy has raged in this space questioning the basic justification for the Catholic faith. Unfortunately, while the inquisitor started with an interesting and engaging line of questioning, he descended into a noisome parroting of “Jack … Continue reading

Posted in Apologetics | 47 Comments